Automatic sprinkler.



G. I. ROGKWOOD.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

APPLICATION FILED PEB.19, 1909.

990,780. Patented Apr. 25, 1911.

a I a fnvejnor Ra 77 fieorgejfZoo/uwqod.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

GEORGE I. ROCKWOOD, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr. 25, 191 1- Applicationfiled February 19, 1909. Serial No. 478,783.

is the same with the cap retaining device" and sprinkler shown incentral vertical section. Fig. 3 is a rear view, and Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the horizontal arm of the cap retaining device.

Similar reference letters and figures refer to similar parts in thedifferent views.

My invention relates to automatic sprinklers in which a water nozzle isclosed by a cap, normally held in position under pressure by a capretaining device, containing a fusible member that allows the capretaining device to collapse under pressure when .a predetermined degreeof boat has been reached,

and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts ashereinafter described and pointed out in the annexed claims.

Referring .to the accompanying drawings, 1 is a nozzle provided with ascrew thread 2, by which the sprinkler may be connected to a pipecontaining water under pressure.

. The nozzle 1 is provided on. diametrically opposite sides withvertical arms 3 support ing at their upper ends a collar 4, havin aninternal screw thread 5 to receive a di fuser 6 in which is journaled aspindle 7, having the axis of its lower end or tip 8 coincident with theaxis of the nozzle 1, and fitting a recess 9 in the upper surface of abent lever 10. The lever 10 is bent downward over the upper end of apost 11, the lower end of which is inserted in a diametrical slot 12 inthe cap 13, which rests upon and closes the upper end of the nozzle 1.The lower end 14 of the lever 10 rests upon the outer end of adetachable horizontal arm 15, the inner end of which is provided with aT-shaped extension 15*, arranged to be insorted through a vertical slot16 in the post 11, by turning the arm 15 into a vertical plane andreturning the arm 15 to a hori- Zontal plane to lock the arm 15 and post11.

depending lugs 17, which contact with the side of the post 11 and resistdownward pressure upon the free end of the arm 15. The interlocking ofthe T-shaped extension 15* with the post 11 holds the arm 15 fromlongitudinal movement. The end 14 of the lever 10 bears against ashoulder 18 near the end of the horizontal arm 15 and is held by itagainst rearward movement. Beyond the shoulder 18 the arm 15 is bentdownward and upward, forming an approximately semicircular recess 19below the shoulder 18 to receive the lower end of a plate 20, which isarranged with its surface in contact with; 119

the outer surface of the downwardly extending portion of the lever 10,and the contacting surfaces of 10 and 20 are united by solder fusible ata predetermined temperature. Solder of similar character, at 21, is alsoemployed to unite the end 14 of the lever 10 and the lower end of theplate 20 to the outer end of the horizontal arm 15.

The operation of my improved cap retaining device is as follows :VVhenthe predetermined degree of heat melts the solder at 21 and between thecontacting surfaces of the lever 10 and plate 20-, the pressure of thewater upon the cap 13 will tend to raise the post 11 and to rock thelever 10 upon the lower end of the tip 8. The plate 20, being free tomove at its upper end and with its lower end bearing against the lip 22,will be rocked upon the end 14 of the lever 10 by the outward moving end14 of the lever 10 in the direction of the arrow 0., Fig. 1.

By this construction I make the length of the shorter arm of the plate20 equal to the vertical distance between the lip 22,0f the arm 15 andthe end 14 of the lever 10, over which the plate 20 rocks as a fulcrum.

In assembling the parts, I preferably fasten by solder the T-shapedextension 15 and attached to the outer surface .of said lever by fusiblesolder.

2; In an automatic sprinkler, the combination with a cap closing thenozzle, of a pipe having water under pressure and a 1 difluser supportedoppositeto said cap-havable horizontal arm supported by said post andhavingv a shouldernear itsouter end to support the lower end of saidlever, and a plate with its lower end'detachably held by c said armbeyond said lever and united to said lever by fusible so der.

1 3. A cap retaining evice for an automatic sprinkler, comprising anupright-post, a lever. on said post, an arm extending from said post,said arm having a shoulder near the outer end of said arm to receive oneend ofsaid lever and a transvers'e'recess beyond said shoulder, a plateheld in said recess and arranged ,to contact with the. outer surfa'ce ofsaid lever, and fusible means for attachingsaid plate to said arm andsaid lever.

4. A cap retaining device for an automatic sprinkler, comprising anuprightpost, an arm extending from said posthaving at its outer endatransverse recess, a le'v'er on said post with its lower end i'ncontactwith said arm between said lever and said recess, and a plate held insaidrecess and in contact with the outside of said tacting surfaces ofsaid plate, arm and lever attached by fusible soldern 5. A cap retainingdevice for ans'automatic sprinkler, comprising an upright postfa leveron said post, an arm extending from said post having near its outer, enda transverse Copies of this patent may be obtained for extending -lip,

plate to said lever, with the consurface to receive one end of saidlever and a transverse recess beyond and below said surface, and a platein contact with the outer surface of said lever' having its lower endheld from outward movement by said recess, with said plate attached tosaid arm and leverby fusible solder. Y

' 6. A cap retaining device for an automatic .prinkler, comprising anupright post, a lever supported on said post, a detachable arm extendingfrom said post, depending lugs on said arm. in contact with said post, ashoulder near the outer end of said arm to receive one end of saidlever, with said arm beyond said shoulder provided with an upwardly aplate .with its lower end held by said lip from outward movement, saidplate in contact-with theouter surface of said lever, and means fusibleat a predetermined temperature for attaching said arm and said lever.

' 7. A cap retaining device for an automatic sprinkler, comprising anupright post, a lever supported on said post, an arm extending from asurface transverse to said arm to receive one end of said lever, withsaid arm beyond said surface provided with an upwardly extending lip,with the'upper end of said lip arranged to be at a predetermineddistance below the end of said lever when in contact with said surface,a plate with its. lower end held by said lip from outward movement, saidplate in contact with the outer surface of said lever, and means fusibleat a predetermined temperature for attaching said plate to said arm andsaid lever.

GEORGE I; ROCKWOClD. Witnesses:

PENELOPE COMBERBACH,

NELLIE WHALEN.

five cents each, by addressing the f Commissioner of Patents.Washington, D. G,

said post, having near its outer end

